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Murrin, 29, of Templars Place, High Street, Templecombe, pleaded guilty that on May 12, when suspected of having driven a vehicle and having been required to provide a specimen of blood for analysis, he failed to do so.

Robert Reid, prosecuting, said that police were on patrol shortly before 3am when they saw the defendant driving a vehicle erratically on West Hendford.

Murrin was driving with a passenger and the officers noted that they both appeared to be under the influence of something, as their speech was slurred and the passenger was slumped in his seat.

"They seemed unaware of their surroundings, but then Murrin suddenly changed and became quite hyperactive and was talking excessively, so a drugs search was carried out of the car and police found some ketamine," he said.

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"He had not been drinking at all, which was why he blew zero, and his friend had the ketamine and had been smoking cannabis," he said.

"Murrin said he was not driving erratically, but said there were road works and a diversion, and he got lost and wasn't entirely sure where he was, so stopped to get his SatNav out and the police then spoke to him.

"The police said he was dazed and confused, but my client says that is just the way he presents himself."

He said that the defendant suffered with anxiety after previously being attacked with an axe, and was also involved in a crash which left him feeling depressed.

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"He said he was hyper because he was anxious after being stopped by the police, and once in custody he co-operated with the breath test, but then became confused when asked to provide a blood sample due to his learning difficulties and said he didn't like needles," said Mr Boyce.

"He did not fully appreciate the consequences of doing that, however it was not a deliberate refusal."

The magistrates disqualified Murrin from driving for 17 months and sentenced him to a 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 60 hours unpaid work. Costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge were also imposed.